Top 25 scariest countries to drive in – Where South Africa ranks

South Africa ranks 21st on the list of the world’s 25 most nerve-racking countries for holidaymakers to drive in with a “scare score” of 6.8 out of 10.

First on the chart is India with a rating of 7.15, and last is New Zealand with 5.77.

These figures were determined by UK-based Scrap Car Comparison, which surveyed 2,000 motorists from Australia, Canada, France, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, the UK, and the USA.

Participants were tasked with rating on a scale of 1-10 how nervous they would feel to drive in 49 of the world’s most visited countries – 1 being not very nervous at all and 10 being extremely nervous.

They were also asked to clarify what concerned them the most about driving in a foreign country.

Risky roads

With an average scare score of 7.15 out of 10, India ranks as the country where motorists are most nervous to drive in.

The South Asian nation is renowned for its unpredictable traffic conditions, with everything from cars and motorcycles to rickshaws and livestock sharing the roads, supplying plenty of hazards that unfamiliar drivers will find tricky to navigate.

Additionally, horns are frequently used as a form of communication between native drivers, which can cause increased stress for tourists who may not be used to the noisy custom.

As in lots of countries around the world, the rural roads in India are also significantly less developed, meaning drivers will need to navigate local villages and agricultural areas with care.

Bengaluru, India. One of the most congested cities in the world.

Venezuela landed in second at 6.97, with poor road conditions such as a prevalence of large potholes being the main cause for concern for international drivers.

Additionally, the country is prone to fuel shortages that result in long lines at petrol stations, and most are only open until 22h00 in the evening, which can complicate multi-day road trips for the inexperienced.

Venezuelan traffic laws, though present, are often loosely enforced, too, leading to unpredictable driving behaviours such as ignoring traffic lights or lane discipline.

Zimbabwe completed the rostrum of the scariest countries to drive in at a score of 6.90.

Off-road-capable vehicles are a necessity if you’re planning to travel outside of the big cities in Zimbabwe as the African territory’s rural arteries are underdeveloped and thus unkind to normal passenger cars.

Fuel shortages are also relatively common in the country, and traffic police checkpoints are frequent, with traffic officers being known to hassle tourists for bribes.

An honourable mention, the Netherlands only scored a 4.41 out of 10, making it one of the least threatening nations to drive in on the planet.

The Netherlands is known for its well-maintained and clearly marked roads, rendering navigation relatively easy for visitors, and the citizens’ love of cycling also creates more organised traffic patterns for vehicular traffic.

The table below, as compiled by Scrap Car Comparison, details the top 25 most nerve-racking countries for tourists to drive in the world:

Cause for concern

The biggest cause for concern for survey respondents was that they would have to drive on the opposite side of the road in a particular country, with 56.2% of all participants stating this is what makes them the most anxious when driving abroad.

At 55.9%, the second-biggest concern for motorists hitting the roads in a foreign country is the dangerous driving of other road users.

Rounding off the top three was not wanting to accidentally break a road law, with just over half (52.7%) of motorists claiming this is something they worry about when planning to drive abroad.

The top 10 reasons drivers are nervous about traveling the roads in other countries are summarised below: